Flange breakaway fitting



United v States Patent 12 Inventor Thomas F- Grafly 3,198,480 8/1965Morse 285/189X Chicago, Ill. 3 ,290,069 12/1966 Davis 285/341 gl lg- 11968 FOREIGN PATENTS l e m a rammed Dec. 8,1970 1,224,164 2/1960 France285/158 [73] Assignee l-T-E Imperial Corporation Primary Examiner-DavidJ. Williamowsky a corporation of Delaware Assistant Examiner-Wayne L.Shedd Att0rneyl-lofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [$4] FLANGEBREAKAWAY FITTING 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] Us. Pl 285/158,

. 7 235/231 ABSTRACT: An hydraulic flange fitting for connection of a lIll!- Fla 27/00 duct such as a tube, pipe or hose to a port. The flangedcon- [50] Field ofsell'dl 285/158, nection permits swivel adjustabilityofthe fining relative to the 159, I89, 190(Cursory), 272(Cursory),281(Cursory), 280; 287/20(Cursory) [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,522,757 9/1950 Larson 285/ l58X 2,749,149 6/ 1956 Carpenter285/189 port. The body of the fitting is provided with one or moreconnecters for providing a breakaway connection of the duct thereto. Thebreakaway connection may comprise a threaded reusable connection,abrazed seal connection, and the like. The threaded connection maycomprise a constrictible sleeve connector wherein the sleeve ispermanently associated with the duct end.

PATENTEU DEC 8 I970 l 1' FLANGE BREAKAWAY ammo BACKGROUND oarmaINVENTION l. Field of the Invention r This invention relates to fittingsand in particular to fluid flow fittings including a swivel typeconnector adapted for connection to a port'member.

'21 Description of the Prior one well-known form of hydraulic flangefitting comprises a fourbolt split flange connection wherein the fittingbody is provided with a tubular projection having a radially enlargedflange and adapted to be. sealingly connected to a port memberby a splitclamp; The clamp is arranged to be bolted to the port member inoverlying relationship to the flange to urge the flange sealinglyagainst" the port member about the port opening. Sealing means may beprovided in the form of an O-r'ing conventionally carried by eithertheflange member or port member to sealingly engagethe other member whenthe flange member is so clamped to'the port member.

The conventionalhydraulic flange fittings are arranged to be'pennanentlyconnected to the end of a duct such as a tube,

pipe or hose with the swivel capabilities of the flange structurepermitting facilitated connection of the duct to the port such as wheredisalinement or similar inaccuracies of disposition of the hose endoccur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Otherfeatures and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description. taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. I is asideelevation of a flange fitting embodying the inventionsealingly connected to a portion of the port member; ,7

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged diametric section thereof takensubstantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of flange fittingembodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of another modified form of flange fittingembodying the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary diametric section illustrating a modified formof breakaway "connectionfor use in the flange fitting embodying theinvention; and 7 FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another modified form offitting embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiments ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, a number of different formsof flange fittings are provided with different breakaway tubeconnections. More specifically, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1--3, a flange fitting, generally designated 10, includes a body 11provided with a surface portion 12 and a bore 13 having an opening 14 inthe surface portion 12. The body 11 includes a tubular projection 15defining a passage 16 communicating with the bore 13. The extension 15includes a radially enlarged flange head 17 defining an outer face 18.The head 17 is clamped to aport member 19 defining a port 20 by means ofa flange clamp 21, which, as shown in FIG.,1, is secured to the portmember 19 by bolts 22. Lock washers 23 may beprovided for maintainingthe secured, connection. The clamp 21 may comprise a unitary clampmovably retained on the extension 15 between the body 11 and the flangehead 17 and including a stepped shoulder 24 bearing against the flangehead 17 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2 in brokenlines, the clamp 21 may comprise a pair of split flange clamp halves 21aand 21b which may be installed in association with the body 11 byplacement about the extension 15 from opposite sides thereof. Thehead 17may be provided with an annular outwardly opening channel 25 in which anO- ring 26 is received for providing sealing connection between theflange head 17 and the port member 19. I

As shown in FIG. 3, the body 11 is provided with a breakaway connection,generally designated 27, for connecting a duct such as tube T to thebody'll to have communication with bore 13 through opening 14.Thus,-body 11 is provided with an exteriorly threaded portion 28 and aninternal frustoconical seating surface 29 defining an extension of bore13 opening into end 12. Theconnection 27 includes a nut 30 having aninternally threaded portion 31 for threaded association with bodyportion 28 and a camming surface '32. The connection 27 further includesa sleeve, generally designated 33, coaxially disposed between nutcamming surface 32 and body seat 29. The sleeve 33 includes a pluralityof radially inwardly projecting annular ribs 34 arranged to beconstricted into the tube T as the result of an advancement of nut 30 onbody portion 28 forcing camming surface 32 thereof against the outer end35 of the sleeve, as shown in FIG. 3. At the same time, such threadedadvancement of nut 30 urges the nose 36 of the sleeve sealingly againstthe seating surface 29 and cams the nose into tight sealing engagementwith the distal end of the tube T. Thus, the sleeve 33 is effectivelysealingly connected .to the tube and while yet the connection may bereadily disassembled by reverse threading'of nut 30 to permit axialwithdrawal from body end 12 of the assembled tube and sleeve and looselyretained nut.-

Referring now to FIG. 4, a modified form of fitting, generallydesignated 110, embodying the invention is shown to comprise a fittinggenerally similar to fitting 10 except that the means for connecting aduct removably thereto comprises a portion 112 which extends. coaxiallyto tubular projection Another form of breakaway connection means isillustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the sleeve 333 is adapted to be sealinglyconnected to the end of tube. T by a connection means 327 utilizingbrazing means 337. The nut 330 is threaded onto the threaded bodyportion 328 to retain the sleeve in sealed association with the body 311 subsequent to the brazed connection of the sleeve to the tube end.Thus, fitting 310 of FIG. 6 differs from fitting 10 in providing abrazed connection of the sleeve to the tube end rather than aconstricted connection of the sleeve to the tube end.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a further modified form of fitting, generallydesignated 410, is shown to be arranged for connection thereto of threeducts. Thus, one connection may be similar to that of fitting 10 whereinthe threaded end 428 is arranged for use with a connection means 27, asshown in FIG.

combination of FIG. 7 is illustrative only, if being understood that thedifierent connection means may be employed in any combination, asdesired.

Thus, the fittings 10, 1 10, 210 310, and 410, are similar except asdiscussed above, and similar elements thereof are identified by similarreference numerals except 100 different. In each of the disclosedfittings, the swivel flange type fitting is combined with one or morebreakaway connection means to provide the improved flexibility ofconnection as discussed above. Each of the fittings is extremely simpleand economical of construction while yet providing the above discussedadvantages over the fittings of the prior art.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A one-piece body for vuse in a fluid flow fitting, comprising anL-member having: a first portion defining a first end portion; a firstbore extending through said first portion of the L-member and openingthrough said first end portion; an annular flange head concentricallyabout said bore on said first end portion and defining an axiallyoutwardly opening annular seal receiving recess; a second portionextending perpendicular to said first L-member portion and defining asecond end portion; a second bore extending through said second portionof the L-member perpendicular to and cornmunicatingwith said first boreand opening through said second e nd port'ion, said first and secondbores having. substantially. constant similar diameters; a frustoconicalsealing surface in said second end portion opening through the outer endof said second bore; and a thread on said second portion radiallyconcentrically outwardly of said sealing surface, the axis of saidsealing surface and thread being perpendicular to the axis of the saidflange head.

